Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Shifting into Gear: Maintaining Your Bike for Longevity

After spending your
hard-earned paycheck, or couple of paychecks, on a bike the last thing you want
is for it to break down on you. Prevent your bike from blundering by taking
proper care of it before and after you ride. While most maintenance for your bike
is easy, it’s important not to skip over any of the small details.

Become a Sponge

The first and most
important rule to maintaining your bike is to know how to maintain your bike.
If you would rather have a bike shop fix your bike anytime there is a problem
that’s up to you. If you want to learn how to maintain the mechanics of your
bike watch your local bike shop mechanic repair your bike. Ask them questions
if you have any. Learning how to properly tighten and loosen the different
components of your bike like a headset, or repair your brakes can save you
money and give you a feeling of accomplishment.

The Bike Wash

The first thing you
want to do when giving your bike a bath is to remove the wheels and attachments
like bike bags, so you can access the frame more directly and to prevent rust.
It’s a good idea to wipe down your bike after each run, but if you are riding
in stormy conditions you might want to consider the full bath. It’s as simple
as rinse, soap, rinse, dry. To prevent scratching up your frame, give it a
light hose down before you attempt to wipe off the grime. You will probably
want to wipe down the frame of your bike and the spokes of your wheels. The
chain should be washed when you wash the rest of your bike. There are products
that clean off your bike chain, but the old-fashioned way works too. Remember
to reapply chain lube after you dry your bike. Chain lube is important to
remember so you don’t accidently brake your chain on your next ride.

picture courtesy of roadcyclinguk.com

The Chain

It’s good to keep your
chain lubed up, but it’s a little debatable about how often you should lube up
your chain. I wouldn’t go a week without lubing up the chain to make sure that
it stays coated, but some people will lube their chain right after their rides.
Do the style that works best for you, just try to remember to lube the chain up
at least once a week, and wipe off the excess. Too much chain lube can be just
as bad as no chain lube.

Two Friends

Think of the cassette
and the chain as two best friends who are inseparable. That means when it’s
time for a new cassette, it’s also time for a new chain. This is because they
wear fairly evenly together, so when one is ready to be replaced the other is
probably on its last leg too. Replace them at the same time to reduce the
chance of one breaking.

Tire Inflation

Before every ride you
want to check your tire pressure. Tire pressure affects the way you ride, so
having too little tire pressure will hurt your timing. Tire pressure will also
vary with temperature, so if it’s been a particularly hot few days don’t skip
the check before you ride. Your tires can also change pressure from temperature
when they ride, so avoid any unnecessary excessive braking.

Hold Up

Brakes are essential
on every ride, which is why they should be properly maintained. Check your
brakes to make sure they are decent before you strap on your helmet. If you are
riding in rainy weather or wet roads, brakes take a whole new turn. In wet weather,
your brakes wear down extremely quickly, so after any rainy ride make sure you
dry your brake pads as soon as possible. If your area is prone to rainy weather
make sure you keep brake pads on hand, so you can change them instead of
cancelling your riding plans.

On the Road
Maintenance

Sometimes we do
everything we can to prevent having to do maintenance on the road, but then we
are faced with a flat. Alright, no biggie just make sure you have the proper
tools on hand. Part of good bike maintenance is preparedness. The kit you
should always have attached to your bike may need a little attention too. Check
to make sure that your patch glue hasn’t dried and that you have the proper
tools for taking off your wheels in case of a flat. Checking your bike bag
essentials can help prevent a second crisis of not having the proper
necessities to make repairs. Have a spare derailleur on hand too, because if
that goes out then your ride is over.

Maintaining your bike
can mean longevity of its life. A proper maintained bike will perform well and
reduce the risk of breakdowns during your much-desired rides. Going the extra
mile for your bike will help the bike go the extra mile for you.